Childminder in Halton

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 November 2015 23 November 2011

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Assessment of children's development is not precise enough to accurately monitor children's progress and plan precisely for the next steps in their learning.  The childminder is not aware of the requirement to complete a written progress check for children aged between two and three years.  The childminder does not evaluate her practice and has not maintained her professional development. She has not kept up to date with changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements.

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It has the following strengths

 Generally, effective communication is in place with parents. The childminder regularly shares information with parents about children's care needs. She follows routines from home, which help children to feel welcome and comfortable.  Children's behaviour is good. The childminder is a good role model. Children show a strong sense of belonging as the childminder values and respects each child as an individual.  Children enjoy warm and affectionate care and are happy and confident in the childminder's home. This helps to support their emotional well-being.  Children's health is promoted well. The childminder's home is very clean, and good hygiene procedures are rigorously followed by adults and children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the arrangements for assessing children's rate of development, in order to monitor children's progress accurately and plan precisely for the next steps in their learning 04/01/2016

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Due Date

 complete a written progress check for all children aged between two and three years and share this with parents. 04/01/2016

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 improve arrangements for self-evaluation and professional development so that weaknesses and breaches of legal requirements are identified and the necessary action is taken to address them.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled children's assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the childminder and looked at a selection of policies and procedures, including safeguarding, risk assessments and self-evaluation.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day of inspection.  The inspector carried out a tour of the premises.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to act if she has concerns about a child, and is aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse. She completes risk assessments to ensure the environment is safe. Children learn about their personal safety by regularly practising the emergency evacuation drills. The childminder regularly accesses mandatory training, such as safeguarding and has up-to-date first-aid knowledge. Self-evaluation is in the early stages and does not extend to all aspects of the provision. For example, her practice does not reflect some aspects of the most recent changes in legislation. Therefore, there are some gaps in her knowledge, which has resulted in some of the learning and development requirements not being met. Partnerships with parents and other professionals are established and regular information is exchanged to support children's learning and care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The childminder carries out observations as children play and has some understanding of how children learn. However, the assessment arrangements are not secure. The childminder does not carry out regular and precise assessments to accurately identify children's next steps in learning. In addition, the childminder has failed to complete the progress check for children aged between two and three years. This means the childminder cannot be certain that she is helping children to make the most progress possible. Nevertheless, the childminder knows the children well and can talk in general about their learning and development. Generally, sound teaching techniques are tailored to the children's individual abilities to ensure that all children make steady progress in their learning. She repeats new words clearly to encourage and support young children's language development. The childminder demonstrates adequate levels of enthusiasm to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

motivate the children. For example, she praises children's efforts as they attempt to count numbers during activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The childminder talks gently and kindly to children, and gives them reassuring cuddles. Children develop close attachments to the childminder and they approach her with confidence and affection. She knows the children's care needs well, as she gathers information about their routines from parents, when they start in her care. The childminder provides a child-friendly, homely environment. Children independently access a range of appropriate resources to support them in their play. The childminder helps children to learn about the local community by taking regular trips to places of interests, such as the local park and the library. Children are learning some of their self-help skills with support from the childminder. For example, they wash their hands independently.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are generally working at typical levels of development for their ages. However, the quality of assessment, and the way this information is used, requires improvement, so that children are helped to make good, or better, progress. Children are developing basic skills that will support them for the next stage of their learning at nursery or school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY412801 Local authority Halton Inspection number 851329 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 9 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 23 November 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2010 and lives in Widnes, Cheshire. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Telephone number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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